Indian Quassia (Quassia indica)

Niepa bark tree Karingotta Hořkoň indická Samaderarinde
Indian Quassia
Indian Quassia
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Quassia indica (Niepa Bark Tree) - Morphology and Uses

Thriving in the brackish waters of South and Southeast Asian mangroves, Quassia indica forms an evergreen canopy adapted to tidal riverbanks. This species is highly valued in regional traditional medicine for its intensely bitter properties, which are present throughout its tissues. It plays a significant ecological role as a bioindicator of tidal reach and salinity in coastal ecosystems.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ mesangiosperms
  • ∟ eudicots
  • ∟ Superrosids
  • ∟ rosids
  • ∟ malvids
  • ∟ order Sapindales
  • ∟ family Simaroubaceae (Quassia family)
  • ∟ genus Quassia (Quassia Wood)
  • ∟ species Quassia indica (Indian Quassia)

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Morphology

This species grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching heights of up to 15 to 20 meters with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimeters. The trunk is often fluted or multiple stems are present, covered with relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. The branches bear alternate, simple leaves with petioles measuring up to 3 centimeters in length.

The leaf blades are coriaceous, glossy, and entirely hairless, measuring 12 to 30 centimeters in length and 4 to 12 centimeters in width. They feature a rounded base, an obtuse apex, and a prominent midrib on the lighter underside, which also displays scattered dark glands. Inflorescences are dense, drooping umbels supported by a flattened peduncle that is 5 to 30 centimeters long.

Each bisexual flower is tetramerous and features small bracts with calyx lobes about 3 millimeters long. The four petals are greenish, yellowish-white, or purplish, measuring around 2 to 3 centimeters, and are covered with soft hairs on the outer surface. The fruit is an oval or crescent-shaped drupe, 5 to 9 centimeters long, containing a single large seed rich in oil.

Flowering season

Blooms and fruits throughout the entire year, with regional peaks depending on local monsoonal patterns.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
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Aug
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Oct
Name
Dec

Applications

The light, soft, and pale yellow wood of the tree is locally utilized for crafting knife handles, domestic tools, and firewood. In Madagascar, the buoyant timber is specifically selected for constructing traditional canoes. The seeds contain a high concentration of oil, which is extracted and applied topically to soothe joint pain and rheumatic conditions.

Traditional medicine systems across India and Madagascar employ various parts of the plant to treat diverse ailments. Infusions of the bark and root are ingested to alleviate fevers, digestive disorders, and painful menstruation. Additionally, leaf pastes are applied externally to treat skin conditions, erysipelas, and persistent itching.

Natural extracts from the seeds and leaves serve as an effective botanical insecticide against termites, ants, and lice. Modern pharmacology has also identified several quassinoids in the plant, such as samaderin. These compounds exhibit promising anti-leukemic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties in laboratory studies.

Interesting facts

Every part of the plant contains the active glycoside samaderin, rendering it incredibly bitter and entirely unpalatable to herbivores. If ingested, the seeds act as a potent emetic and purgative, causing rapid vomiting and diarrhea. This defensive chemistry protects the species from various predators in its coastal habitat.

The seeds possess remarkable buoyancy, allowing them to be carried across vast distances by ocean currents. This marine seed dispersal mechanism explains the wide distribution of the species across distant island archipelagos. Consequently, it has successfully established populations from East Africa to the remote Pacific Islands.

Geography of distribution

  • India
  • Sri Lanka
  • Myanmar
  • Vietnam
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Indonesia
  • Philippines
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Solomon Islands
  • Palau
  • Madagascar
  • Comoros
  • Mayotte
  • Tanzania

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
  • World Flora Online (WFO)
  • Flora Malesiana
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos

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